Columns

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) is a common and destructive pest with an extremely wide host range that includes many trees, shrubs, flowers, weeds, fruits, and vegetable crops. Problems increase during hot, dry weather but early signs and symptoms are easy to overlook. Not only are these mites tiny but they live out of sight on the underside of leaves (Figure 1).

I don’t scare easy. Sure, if somebody sneaks up behind me I’ll jump, but I’ll probably swing too. I’ve jumped out of airplanes, rappelled down mountains, even been surrounded by 300 Crips and Bloods that were more heavily armed than I, but I didn’t think a ride on the tractor would scare me.

In a June 13 article for Associated Baptist Press, a Frankfort minister derided Bible-believing pastors and scholars for teaching that the Genesis account of creation is historic fact, as opposed to a metaphorical story.

The article, entitled “It’s time for evangelicals to come out for evolution,” asserts that when it comes to the creation versus evolution debate “educated evangelicals know better.”

Last week, federal Judge John G. Heyburn II struck down as unconstitutional an amendment to our state constitution that made it illegal for Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages or perform civil unions.

The amendment, which was approved by 75 percent of Kentucky voters in 2006, reads, “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Kentucky.

A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”